PSP Legality Issues

Viruw · Post by **Viruw** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 11:12 am

Hi all.

I apologize in advance if this has a topic elsewhere, but I had a quick look through the PSP subforum and couldn't find anything.

I wanted to know if anyone can shed light on if it is legal to copy CD's like COMI and The Dig to a PSP memory card.
Basically, it is breaching copyright to play games on the PSP from the memory card, and not on the original medium that the game is supplied on?

Secondly, is using eLoader in itself illegal?
The fact that Sony keeps on trying to quash attempts for it to work every time they release new firmware may suggest this....

Thanks

kraft · Post by **kraft** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 11:28 am

to what i know of copying any copyrighted material is illegal, even if it is for personal use im sure its illegal in a way..that wy you cant buy a dvd and cant copy it for personal use cause its got a protection on it.

the eboot loader for psp is 100% legal, BUT only for homebrew games which people have created themselves. emulators like SNES,gameboy, sega gen, and all emulators like that that play roms is also illegal

mikebeuler · Post by **mikebeuler** » Tue May 09, 2006 2:53 pm

Don't quote me but I do follow these things closely...

From what I understand. It's generally fine to do what you want with software as long as you own the original. Copies for personal use (not you friends or your sister) are fine too (Back-ups). It's what's defined as "Fair use".

http://www.eff.org/IP/DRM/?f=fair_use_and_drm.html

Companies that make hardware don't want you to alter it (Hack) such as the XBox and PSP. This violates their user agreement and means you void your warranty. It's not illegal to be creative or inventive with stuff you own. The same applies to software, written and recorded works; if you own the CD, you should be able to put the song in your iPod, car, kitchen etc. Right now companies would like you to buy several copies of the same CD for each instance but "Fair use" doesn't back them up.

The Principal of fair use is under attack right now but still stands as the rule of law.

BTW: emulators are not illegal. But that's a new subject!

fiksve · Post by **fiksve** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:51 am

I dont think its quite that simple, it all depends on the laws in your country. In the US, pretty much anything seems illegal, while most european countries are more flexible.

Vinterstum · Post by **Vinterstum** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:06 am

fiksve wrote:I dont think its quite that simple, it all depends on the laws in your country. In the US, pretty much anything seems illegal, while most european countries are more flexible.

The general fair use principle mikebueler talks about holds for both the US and most of Europe (though I believe there's some various restrictions on -how many- personal copies you can make).

Just because company X doesn't want you to make personal copies of their product and do everything in their power to prevent it, doesn't make said copies illegal

.

Australia apparently has some restrictions on making personal copies in general though.

mikebeuler · Post by **mikebeuler** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:49 pm

like Vinterstum said... One can never explain this issue in two paragraphs. I'm referring to US laws only.

for more info on all this go to: http://www.eff.org/
Support them if you can (I'm in no way affiliated with them!)